Chapter V.

The writer sums up the argument he had commenced, and
confirms the statement that unity is signified by the terms finger and
right hand, from the fact that the works of God are the same as are the
works of hands; and that those of hands are the same as those of
fingers; and lastly, that the term hand applies equally to the Son and
the Spirit, and that of finger applies to the Spirit and the Son.

29. But what wonder
is it if He Who Himself needs no sanctification, but abounds therewith,
sanctifies each man; since, as I said, we have been taught that His
Majesty is so great, that the Holy Spirit seems to be as inseparable
from God the Father as the finger is from the body?

30. But if any one thinks that this should be
referred not to the oneness of power, but to its lessening, he indeed
will fall into such madness as to appear to fashion the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit as it were into one bodily form, and to picture to
himself certain distinctions of its members.

31. But let them learn, as I have often
said, that not inequality but unity of power is signified by this
testimony; inasmuch as things which are the works of God are also the
works of hands, and we read that the same are the works of
fingers. For it is written: “The heavens declare the
glory of God, and the firmament showeth the work of His
hands;”12671267Ps. xix.
[xviii.] 1. and
elsewhere: “In the beginning Thou didst found the earth, O
Lord; and the heavens are the works of Thy hands.”12681268Ps. cii. [ci.]
26. So, then, the works of the hands
are the same as the works of God. There is not therefore any
distinction of the work according to the kind of bodily members, but a
oneness of power.

32. But those which are the works of the
hands are also the works of the fingers, for it is equally
written: “For I will behold Thy heavens, the works of Thy
fingers, the moon, and the stars, which Thou hast
established.”12691269Ps. viii. 3. What less
are the fingers here said to have made than the hands, since they made
the same as the hands, as it is written: “For Thou, Lord,
hast made me glad through Thy work, and in the works of Thy hands will
I rejoice.”12701270Ps. xcii. [xci.]
4.

33. And yet since we read that the Son is
the hand (for it is written: “Hath not My Hand made all
these things?”12711271Isa. lxvi. 2. and
elsewhere: “I will place thee in the cleft of the rock, and
I will cover thee with Mine hand, I have placed My hand under the
covering of the rock,”12721272Ex. xxxiii. 22. which refers to
the mystery of
140the
Incarnation, because the eternal Power of God took on Itself the
covering of a body), it is certainly clear that Scripture used the term
hand both of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

34. And again, since we read that the Spirit
is the finger of God, we think that fingers [in the plural] are spoken
of to signify the Son and Spirit. Lastly, that he may state that
he received the sanctification both of the Son and of the Spirit, a
certain saint says: “Thy hands have made me and fashioned
me.”12731273Ps. cxix.
[cxviii.] 73.